Christian Baron

Providing recommendations to support policy development for talent and research initiatives in key priority areas, such as defence and artificial intelligence, particularly in regards to coordination with provincial and industry stakeholders. Related to various FedDev and FedNor programs and universities' role in regional economic and community development. Related to international study permits, provincial allocations and permit processing backlogs. Issues of federal - provincial cooperation relating to funding of postsecondary education and the provision of financial assistance to postsecondary students. Increased scholarship funding for domestic and international graduate students. Funding university research. Funding would be used by universities to facilitate medical or scientific research. Funding for universities to construct new buildings, housing and residences or upgrade existing facilities. Eligibility of universities for green funding to reduce GHG emissions.

Assisting with advocacy efforts related to support for fundamental research implementation of the recommendations of the Naylor Report.

Communicating to Members of Parliament and Senate, federal departments and agencies a long term and comprehensive view of the role of research and post-secondary education as it relates to agriculture, food and nutrition, animals and health, in the growth of economic and societal wealth of Canada. Identification of critical infrastructure for food safety, security, sustainability and sovereignty, and public health related to nutrition, disease surveillance and prevention. Provide advice to federal departments and agencies regarding Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine policies and priorities, and in particular Agricultural, Food and Veterinary Medicine policies and priorities related to skills development and capacity, funding and partnerships in scientific research and the technology transfer / extension to users of the research findings. Advice on regulations in related subjects. Communicating with public office holders in the areas of research funding priorities, funding cycles, processes and results; and skills and HQP (highly qualified personnel) needs for governments, industry and academia. Collaboration among Science and Technology and Policy Branches, and Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine faculties of member universities, regarding the development and implementation of research clusters of federal and university organizations. Collaborating with Federal Government on strengthening Canadian universities arrangements with universities abroad

Sensibilisation à l'écosystème entrepreneurial et ses composantes en lien avec les activités universitaires (nature et recherche de financement). Recherche de financement pour renforcer les programmes de recherche de l’École dans les secteurs innovants et ayant le potentiel de positionner le Canada comme leader mondial. Discussions sur les possibilités de financement pour les projets futurs d'infrastructures et d'entretien des infrastructures de HEC Montréal. Discussions sur le financement des organismes subventionnaires et de la politique générale concernant la recherche scientifique. Discussions concernant l’Initiative Jeunes leaders de la Francophonie. Discussions concernant les procédures reliées aux visas pour les étudiants et chercheurs étrangers. Discussions concernant le processus d'admission pour les programmes de stages offerts aux étudiants au sein de la fonction publique. Discussions à propos de la Supergrappe des chaînes d’approvisionnement axées sur l’intelligence artificielle (SCALE.AI). Budget fédéral annuel en ce qui concerne le support du gouvernement fédéral pour l'éducation post-secondaire et la recherche.

Advocacy for investment in the Canadian energy sector. Advocacy to advance international collaboration to support sustainable development. Advocacy to support funding for higher education programs and research initiatives in the health sciences. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in key areas through long-term support for major research facilities and initiatives. Advocacy related to policies that impact international students. Advocacy to represent university interests in the allocation of land. International collaboration to support the reputation of Canadian universities abroad. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in priority areas, including artificial intelligence and defence, to support world-class research and the attraction and retention of top talent, including, but not limited to, specific calls for proposals. Regulations related to visitor visas to support international engagement. Support in principle for high-speed rail along the Québec–Toronto corridor and advocacy for the inclusion of a stop in Kingston. Advocacy to secure support in the budget for post-secondary education, research, innovation, and science. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization. Timeliness of decisions regarding Temporary Residence Visas in the recruiting of international faculty. Student assistance and financial support for higher education, sources of funding to be determined. Science and Technology Policy - Operating funding for major scientific installations and equipment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Regulations related to the provision of immigration advice (under section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) Military and Veteran's Health - seeking support for the national research program of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health through Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence. Maintenance and growth in funding for investigator-driven grants from tricouncils. Indirect Costs of Research Program - increase in support to levels of international peers, source of funding to be determined. Funding for infrastructure to support advanced research and teaching Funding for health sciences initiatives - Obtain federal funding to extend the value chain of cancer clinical trails in Canada. Sources of funding to be determined. FedDev Ontario Applied Research and Commercialization (ARC) initiative to support applied research and commercialization for SME-University partnerships

Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s innovation and economic development agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s health research and life sciences agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Health Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding immigration policies, programs and regulations related to international students, faculty, and highly qualified research personnel developed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding housing strategy issues, policies and programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding Government of Canada training, employment and skills policies or programs, developed by Employment and Social Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies, that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector with respect to their research and education activities. Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support research and education activities, including communication with public office holders in the House of Commons of Canada, the Senate of Canada and relevant departments and agencies. Activities related to the operation of U15 digital initiatives including Cognit.ca and SecureScholar.

Communications regarding federal housing policies and government initiatives to support student housing development. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding health programming and investments to further health research and population health outcomes. Federal Research Granting Councils (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR): 1) Communication with various designated public office holders to inquire on the status research funding programs; and 2) Communications to various designated public office holders to advocate for continued and increased granting council funding for the sector. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding jobs, creating skills development and work-integrated learning. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding investment in science and technology Communications with various designated public office holders regarding international education and to discuss policy changes to immigration that impact students and faculty. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding adaptation and mitigation of climate change, and other environmental policies. Communications with various designated public office holders for increased investment in sector infrastructure. Communications with various designated public office holders for increased funding to the Research Support Program of SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR.

Advocacy related to university engagement in Canadian priorities in artificial intelligence, data systems and related computing science and energy subjects, including but not limited to specific calls for proposals. Advocacy for university initiatives related to Canadian priorities across the defence spectrum, including initiatives relevant to both Defence and Veterans' Affairs, among other federal departments. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization activities. Research security, with respect to international research partnerships Discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies regarding the role of universities in supporting federal innovation initiatives, policies and programs. Discussions regarding research and development initiatives and federal support related to energy and environment, and climate change research, innovation, commercialization, talent and knowledge mobilization. Discussions regarding official language funding amounts and mechanisms. Discussions about the Copyright Act and details of its implementation in a post-secondary setting. Advocacy to secure support in the budget for post-secondary education, research, innovation, and science and technology. Advocacy to secure federal support to develop and upgrade university infrastructure, including but not limited to research and learning facilities, digital infrastructure, and transit infrastructure. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to improve immigration policies and programs for prospective and current university students, faculty, and staff. Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support our research and education mission. Advocacy to enhance student supports, including but no limited to Canada Student Grants and Loans, the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program, supports for Indigenous students, and work-integrated learning programs. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in priority areas to support world class research, talent attraction and retention, and knowledge mobilization. Advocacy related to reconciliation efforts, including but not limited to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action

Support for new research and campus infrastructure. Increased funding and program design for various programs administered by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Funding or support with respect to international development cooperation (student and academic mobility, internships, research collaboration, exchanges, technical assistance). Discussions regarding possible research and development initiatives for, and investments in, partnerships with the University of Calgary. Discussions concerning potential research and development initiatives and investments related to clean energy, environmental research and climate change policy. Discussions about policy implementation regarding the academic visa process in support of international faculty recruitment with respect to changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Budget bills in support of federal funding for post-secondary education, research, innovation, science and technology.

Discuss post-secondary institutions' role in agriculture and food innovations through education and research. Tri-council grant programs (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canadian Institutes of Health Research), and Canada Foundation for Innovation, with respect to research funding Post-secondary education policies, with respect to knowledge capacity development Policies of Canada Revenue Agency, with respect to tax measures to further philanthropic support of public postsecondary institutions Millennium Scholarships, Canada Student Loans Program, with respect to maintenance/enhancement of student assistance programs Health Canada and Canada Food Inspection Agency research and programs with respect to food safety Global Affairs Canada, with respect to international development and research; as well as funding support for refugee students